So, Adam Henley of Blackburn was born in Tenn. He has been playing for Wales in the U something or another. Can the USA get him ? He played very well against Man. U today. Anyone have the back story on this guy?

This was posted in BigSoccer the other day by someone who apparently is his mother:

All, following the huge amount of interest surrounding Adam from the USA, as his mother I thought it would be a good point to give everyone some facts. Adam is not really in a position to reply to individual tweets at this time, so please be patient. Adam was indeed born in Knoxville, TN. I am Welsh and his father is American. The Henley family, including his father William Henley, still live in and around Knoxville, Loudon and Rockwood, TN. When we first married we both worked in Atlanta, hence the reason his elder brother was born there. We moved to Knoxville shortly before Adam was born. When Adam was 2 years old, we divorced and I brought Adam back to the UK with his brother.

Adam has played for Wales at U16, U17 and U19 levels, and has been in the U21 squad on one occasion although he didn't play. I can confirm that Claudio Reyna and Jurgen Klinsmann have both spoken to Adam's agent with regards to his eligibility, and have invited Adam to an U23 training camp. Due to Adam's recent inclusion in the senior team at Blackburn, he has naturally been concentrating on establishing his position there and has put international matters on the back burner. Also, following the sudden death of the Wales manager Gary Speed, the Wales camp is still in mourning and are yet to name a successor. For all these reasons, it has not been a good time to make decisions. We thank everyone for their continued interest, and assure you that any decisions will be fully considered.

I hope this answers some unanswered questions and clarifies some rumours.

Also, Puebla dropped Eddie Johnson after a few days of training due to how badly out of shape he was. I guess he hadn't officially put pen to paper yet and so Puebla could easily send him packing. EJ, what a trainwreck.

"We are interested in bringing Maurice Edu to Sochaux," assistant coach Stephane Gilli said. "We have two or three other targets, but it's fair to say Edu is our number one target for the midfield position."

My stomach dropped when I just read this: Omar Gonzalez tore his ACL in his first full training session.

Brutal. Just brutal. Terrible for Omar, just when he was going to get his NT chance. Also terrible for LA, whose chances of going all the way in the CCL just took a hit. I thought they had a reasonable chance of making it to the Club World Cup. That's going to be tougher now.

Sochaux are looking to add Maurice Edu.

"We are interested in bringing Maurice Edu to Sochaux," assistant coach Stephane Gilli said. "We have two or three other targets, but it's fair to say Edu is our number one target for the midfield position."

It wouldn't hurt to be playing against Ligue 1 opposition every week instead of the dreck of the SPL. That said, Sochaux are in the relegation zone right now. They are usually mid-table, though, and a mid-table Ligue 1 club seems about right for Edu's level.

We're starting to trim the field to get to the real contenders. Still, this is a weaker team that what we'll send to qualifying. It's missing some players at the NT camp (Bill Hamid, Sean Johnson, Brek Shea, Teal Bunbury, Juan Agudelo) and it's missing some players who have club commitments (Jozy Altidore, Tim Chandler, Daniel Williams, Terrence Boyd, Alfredo Morales), although Caleb Porter won't be able to pry away all of the latter group for qualifying.

You've got to think that he'll be able to get a WP if they're going through with it, no?

Not necessarily. There have been denials of U.S. players in the past. One that comes to mind is, I believe Bobby Convey nearly moved to Spurs but was turned down for a work permit, before later signing with Reading in the Colaship.

He's been involved enough with the national team post WC to get it on appeal.

Maybe, maybe not. Hasn't he been left out of a couple of the recent friendly rosters?

You've got to think that he'll be able to get a WP if they're going through with it, no? He's been involved enough with the national team post WC to get it on appeal.

I like Bolton for a player like him, but I'm concerned about him going to a club with a manager in such a tenuous situation. Coyle could be out of there pretty quickly.

Four years ago, it would be a definite "no". Now, I'm less sure. The work permit appeals process has gotten a little softer for American players lately. I'm not sure whether that's part of a larger trend for all non-EU players or whether American players are given the benefit of the doubt now, but it doesn't really matter either way. Alejandro Bedoya didn't have an especially strong case for a WP with Rangers, but it happened. Findley had a few WC caps, but little NT activity before or since, yet he's with Nottingham Forest.

Ream's case isn't dramatically different from Bedoya and Findley. He also has the benefit of a bit of hype; justified or not, it will help him.

* Robbie Rogers has signed with Leeds. He's awaiting his work permit appeal hearing, though, because he doesn't automatically qualify. I think there's a decent chance he gets in. Leeds fans: prepare to be frustrated. Rogers' speed and technical skills wouldn't be out of place in the EPL. His speed-of-thought and decision-making wouldn't be out of place in League One.

* Nothing official in Tim Ream's case yet, but there are still positive noises -- if moving to a sinking ship like Bolton is a positive. Even if he agrees to terms, he'd definitely have to sweat the WP hearing.

* George John is supposedly in talks with West Ham for a transfer or loan. FC Dallas' actions are definitely the actions of a club preparing for John's departure. He's got a Greek passport, so there's less red tape here.

* Freddy Adu is training at Rayo Vallecano and it's rumored that they are interested in a transfer. This guy, I tell you...

* Shay Given is returning from his injury and will likely take over for Brad Guzan. El Guzano did well, though. Hopefully it will boost his stock enough to earn a starting job elsewhere next season.

Clint Dempsey is a beast. Six goals in the last three games, including a hat trick in the FA Cup and another one against Newcastle. 15 goals in all competitions this season. He's improved his goals/game ratio every season at Fulham.

Robbie Rogers received his work permit to finalize a transfer to Leeds

Anyone else excited about Ream to Bolton? I know he has a tough 2011, but he's shown loads of talent and potential. My only concern is the Owen Coyle situation- a young player going to play for a club with a manager in such a tenuous position can be a risky move.

Anyone else excited about Ream to Bolton? I know he has a tough 2011, but he's shown loads of talent and potential. My only concern is the Owen Coyle situation- a young player going to play for a club with a manager in such a tenuous position can be a risky move.

It's going to be a tough test for him. The situation is not ideal -- midseason, struggling club -- but Coyle seems to really like him.

Ultimately, talent finds its level. With Ream, we'll just have to see where he lands in 2-3 years.

It's going to be a tough test for him. The situation is not ideal -- midseason, struggling club -- but Coyle seems to really like him.

Ultimately, talent finds its level. With Ream, we'll just have to see where he lands in 2-3 years.

Hopefully still in Bolton. Of course I am on a Bolton board where the concern is can ream hack it in the prem. Here the concern is can Bolton hack it in the Prem. Bolton's recent switch back to 4-5-1 has helped the team pick up points.

Hopefully Holden will be back soon. It's always a wild ride as a Bolton fan, but as an Bolton born American citizen I am happy to see another American in the squad.

Coyle will have bought himself some time with recent results v Liverpool and the Arse. Barring a major collapse (even bigger than the 1st half) he will be the manager for the remainder of the season and beyond.

Hopefully still in Bolton. Of course I am on a Bolton board where the concern is can ream hack it in the prem. Here the concern is can Bolton hack it in the Prem. Bolton's recent switch back to 4-5-1 has helped the team pick up points.

I think both are legitimate concerns, honestly.

Coyle will have bought himself some time with recent results v Liverpool and the Arse. Barring a major collapse (even bigger than the 1st half) he will be the manager for the remainder of the season and beyond.

It's a Yank Abroad tradition that after a manager makes a somewhat speculative signing of an American, he gets sacked within a month, and the signing never really gets an opportunity. (Just happened to Robbie Rogers / Simon Grayson at Leeds!). Hopefully Coyle's turnaround continues!

He'd been out of the starting lineup for the last 4-5 weeks -- much to the chagrin of AZ fans and the Dutch media, actually. His competition, Charlison Benschop, got injured last week and so Jozy was back in the starting lineup. Two goals, so let's hope he stays.

* Charlie Davies has actually been getting some time off the bench for Sochaux. They are desperate, though, and I don't expect him to do well in the French league based on the diminished abilities he showed with DC United.'

* Ricardo Clark is going on loan to Stabaek until the end of July. Stabaek are in dire financial straits and need help, so he's going to get a lot of playing time. Clark is out of form after not playing for quite a while. He's going to play a lot for Stabaek, though. I doubt he'll ever be a figure for the NT again, but he's had his moments and I'd like to see him do well.

* Speaking of Stabaek-related things, Mix Diskerud has moved into the starting lineup for Gent, at least during the last two matches. I'm glad that he's settled there quickly and I think proving himself at one of the better Belgian clubs is a good next step for him.

--I just can't help but to think Dempsey will not be with Fulham much longer.

--The move to the Dutch League has paid divendends for Jozy and the club and makes Ernie Stewart look like a genius. Why was Jozy on the bench anyways for the 4-5 game span? Was the person ahead of him playing out of his mind football or something?

AZ traveled to Udinese with a 2-0 lead and tried their best to botch it -- a defender got a red and conceded a PK in the 2nd minute. Di Natale scored a second goal in the 15th, but AZ got a crucial away goal later in the first half and held on to win 3-2 overall. Jozy went 90 and apparently did well.

Schalke had to overturn a 1-0 deficit at home, but allowed a quick away goal to Twente, to go down 2-0 and without the away goals advantage. Fortunately, they scored four -- Jermaine Jones had a goal and an assist. 4-2 on aggregate.

Gooch is still injured, but Sporting Lisbon lose at Man City 3-2, which was enough to go through on away goals. Ricky van Wolfswinkel is a fantastic name.

AZ lost to Valencia 4-0 (5-2 on aggregate)
Schalke tied Bilbao 2-2, but lost 6-4 on aggregate
Hannover lost to Atlético Madrid 2-1 (4-2 on aggregate)

Sporting CP eked out a 1-1 draw against Metalist Kharkiv and advanced 3-2 on aggregate. There's some chance that Onyewu could return from injury in time for the second leg, but who knows really.

--

Villyan Bijev also made his first team debut yesterday for Fortuna Düsseldorf. He's on loan from Liverpool and has been playing with Düsseldorf's reserve team. He has a Bulgarian passport, which gives him UK labor rights on 1/1/14, although I believe the hope was that it would be 1/1/12. So unless he gets the special talent exemption, he's going to have to stay on loan for a while. The good news is that Düsseldorf likes him enough to use him in a tight 2.Bundesliga promotion race. Could be a good opportunity for the kid if he sticks around another year. He only just turned 19 this year.

I was going to start a thread about Clint last week...but where is he historically when compared to American players?

He's the best I've seen.

No one's really that close on a single season basis.

Earnie Stewart scored 17 for Willem II Tilburg in the 90-91 season.Michael Bradley scored 18 in all comps for Heerenveen in the 07-08 season.Herculez Gomez has 19 in all comps for Estudiantes Tecos & Santos Laguna this season.

All of which are very nice, but don't compare to what Dempsey has been doing on the EPL stage. And he's been one of the most consistent performers in the league for the last ~4 seasons, although he's taken it to another level this season.

He's the best embodiment of skill and the never-say-die attitude of American players that we've ever seen. Lawrie Sanchez benched him when he became manager, but Dempsey fought his way into the lineup. Then Roy Hodgson benched him, and he fought his way into the lineup again. Then Mark Hughes benched him, and he fought his way into the lineup again. Martin Jol, mercifully, spared us this charade.

* Jozy scored a brace against FC Twente. Too bad AZ let up a last-gasp equalizer after Altidore had been taken off. AZ is still in 2nd, but it doesn't feel like they have the gas left in the tank to beat out Ajax for the title. He's T-7th in scoring in the Eredivisie now with 13 goals. 17 in all comps. It's really good to see. This has been by far his best season as a pro.

* Fabian Johnson scored for Hoffenheim, who crushed Hamburg 4-0.

* Chandler moved back to RB for Nürnberg and picked up an assist in a surprising 4-1 win over Schalke. I'm hearing he looked as good as he ever has. I really think that RB is his long-term position despite playing RM recently (and for much of his youth career).

That's 18 on the year for Jozy now. AZ blew the lead after he was subbed out for the second game in a row, though. Alkmaar is now a distant six points back from Ajax with four to play. Second place for now, but it's a tenuous spot for a fading team -- sixth place Heerenveen is only one point behind. I'd really like Jozy to get more European football next season.

Andrew Wooten scored his first pro goal in his first start for Kaiserslautern yesterday.

Bad news for Ream & Holden. It's really looking more and more like Bolton are going down. They are picking up points here and there, but the teams around them are stepping up in a big way and Bolton just can't match their competition right now.

Is there any news or indications if Jozy will stay in the Eredivisie for another season?

I would expect him to stay at AZ. He has finally found a good situation after bouncing from Villarreal to Xerez to Hull to Bursaspor. His manager believes in him (and believes in kicking his ass when necessary). He's scored more than ever before and his hold up game has improved. No reason to leave so soon. I'd like to see him follow up this season with a better and more consistent performance in 2012-13.